It's actually slate. But they quarry the stuff only an hour north of here. And I get a construction discount through the brick company that ordered it for me because they do so much of the school work we do at the office.
I will say that slate is far and away the most difficult thing I have ever laid. (Just noticed that can sound a bit dirty). Anyway, porcelain tile? Hardwood? Vinyl tile? All much easier and faster to do. Slate was hell. No wonder the material is reasonably cheap but the labor cost is huge. It should be!
And lucked out with the island. I had been considering doing a composite of premade unfinished cabinets from Home Depot or something and then painting them myself. I had even priced it, as well as priced it at a cabinet company. Then one day I walked into a funky little furniture store in Homewood and there the perfect size stood. In black (which is what I had planned), and it would be the same price as the premade unfinished from Home Depot and cheaper than custom, and wouldn't require the additional cost of buying a 48" countertop. So basically, it was bought delivered whole from the store. :)
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branchandroot
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Date: 2010-03-06 04:18 pm (UTC)I will say that slate is far and away the most difficult thing I have ever laid. (Just noticed that can sound a bit dirty). Anyway, porcelain tile? Hardwood? Vinyl tile? All much easier and faster to do. Slate was hell. No wonder the material is reasonably cheap but the labor cost is huge. It should be!
And lucked out with the island. I had been considering doing a composite of premade unfinished cabinets from Home Depot or something and then painting them myself. I had even priced it, as well as priced it at a cabinet company. Then one day I walked into a funky little furniture store in Homewood and there the perfect size stood. In black (which is what I had planned), and it would be the same price as the premade unfinished from Home Depot and cheaper than custom, and wouldn't require the additional cost of buying a 48" countertop. So basically, it was bought delivered whole from the store. :)